Certain foods can trigger irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, such as chocolate, dairy or wheat, according to MayoClinic.com. If you're doctor has confirmed that wheat products cause a flare-up of your IBS symptoms, she will recommend that you avoid all products that contain wheat. The primary protein in wheat that can causes difficulty for people is gluten. Gluten is widely used in various processed foods and may be used in unsuspecting products. If you experience digestive complications when you eat wheat, you may have celiac disease, a digestive condition that's often confused with IBS.
Background
IBS is a general term used for a digestive disorder that causes cramping, abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements. It is not considered an inflammatory bowel disease and does not cause any long-term damage to the intestines, according to MedlinePlus. IBS symptoms differ from person to person and can range from mild to severe. One in five Americans have IBS but the condition goes undiagnosed because many people never see a doctor, according to the MayoClinic.com. If you have digestive complications, talk with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Wheat and IBS
Different foods can aggravate IBS, such as wheat. Wheat is harmless and does not damage the body, but if it is causing symptoms you should avoid it. A wheat-free diet may more difficult than it first appears because wheat by-products are found in many unlikely foods, such as ice cream, cereals and ketchup. Talk with your doctor to develop a diet that can eliminate wheat.
Wheat Elimination
Learn the various names that wheat can be called for food ingredients. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network states that the following ingredients contain wheat: bread crumbs, club wheat, couscous, durum, einkorn, emmer, farina, cereal extract, flour, kamut, hydrolyzed wheat protein, spelt, pasta, triticale and semolina. Ingredients that may contain wheat include glucose syrup, starch and soy sauce. The FDA requires that food labels disclose the use of wheat in their products by placing an allergy warning statement on the package.
Consideration
If you only experience stomach pain, gas, bloating and cramps after eating wheat products, you may be gluten intolerant. Gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease. Celiac disease is a gastric condition where the immune system causes damage to the lining of your small intestines, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This condition is commonly confused with IBS and needs to be clinically diagnosed by your physician.
